Global

guidance
local
knowledge
ICATT for adaptable
training in the
Integrated Management
of Childhood Illness
supported by
Novartis Foundation
for Sustainable Development
ICATT the IMCI
Computerized Adaptation
and Training Tool
ICATT is an innovative computerized software appli-
cation for IMCI. The tool makes it possible to adapt
the IMCI guidelines at national and sub-national
levels, and to develop ICATT-based training courses
to support various training approaches. ICATT can
be translated into different languages and used in a
range of environments and settings, giving it a glo-
bal reach. Once adapted, ICATT can be closed and
distributed to trainers, trainees, nongovernmental
organizations, and other partners that can then use
ICATT for training, but cannot change the content of
the application.
ICATT Version 1/2008 does not address care for HIV-
infected infants and children. The World Health
Organization (WHO) recommends a complemen-
tary course on the care of HIV-infected children for
health workers already trained in IMCI. Information
about this course can be found on the ICATT web
site: www.icatt-training.org. Alternatively, countries
may want to adapt ICATT Version 1/2008 to include
care for HIV- infected children.
ICATT components
Chart booklet builder: The IMCI guidelines devel-
oped by WHO have been summarized in a set of
charts presented in a chart booklet. The builder per-
mits the easy revision of the chart booklet according
to national or sub-national guidelines.
The library includes reference and educational ma-
terials on IMCI and related child health issues, de-
veloped by WHO and other international agencies.
It also includes a wide variety of videos, pictures
and sounds that are used for audiovisual practice
in the training course, but that may also be used
independently.
The training set allows for the adaptation of the ge-
neric training course. The training approach can be
chosen to suit local needs and the training course
adapted accordingly. Materials from the library help
to build tailor-made training courses.
The training player displays the training session for
self-learners or in classroom settings. It is the result
of the adapted training course in the training set
(once closed, the content can no longer be changed).
Associated with the training player is a set of guides
that can be used to facilitate all components of IMCI
training using ICATT.
How can ICATT be used?
Training support: Computer-based training pro-
grammes such as ICATT must be complemented
with practical training sessions to develop certain
skills necessary for assessing, classifying and treat-
ing a child, as well as communication and counsel-
ling skills. Clinical sessions with children must there-
fore be arranged, and trainees also need to practise
counselling the mother (e.g. through role plays).
ICATT is thus not a stand alone training programme,
but an excellent training support tool. To facilitate
learning, each training unit is divided into four areas
read, see, practise, and test.
References: ICATT contains excellent reference and
educational materials which can be updated. Some
of these materials are part of the IMCI course, but
many are provided for further reading, to give a de-
tailed technical background to those who are inter-
ested in learning more about specic child health
topics.
Updates: Since the introduction of IMCI, much has
been learned through the adaptation and imple-
mentation processes in countries. WHO and other
institutions have continued to evaluate the evidence
base for the technical guidelines of the IMCI strat-
egy. Research results with potential implications for
updating the technical guidelines of IMCI are con-
stantly emerging. ICATT facilitates the incorporation
of IMCI guideline updates into the chart booklet as
well as into the learning materials.
ICATT components and user groups
ICATT is intended for everyone who works with IMCI.
The ICATT builder and manager (open interface) is
specically targeted at professionals who are re-
sponsible for adapting the IMCI guidelines and
developing IMCI training courses (e.g. ministries
of health, medical and paramedical schools, WHO).
The library can be used by professionals at any level
for reference and for broadening the training beyond
the generic IMCI training course. The IMCI training
player (closed interface) is targeted at IMCI training
institutions, IMCI trainers and IMCI trainees.
Chart
booklet
Library Training
set
Training
player
IMCI
adapters X X X
Training
designers X X X
IMCI
trainers X
IMCI
trainees X
open
interface
closed
interface
Technical information
ICATT is based on a .NET application that manages
and maintains basic data, conguration and avail-
able resources by using XML data les. Adapta-
tion can be done in a user-friendly structure that is
similar to a web browser. ICATT also provides a xed
structure with elements that can be changed. ICATT
provides the generic content and layout.
Creating a new chart booklet no longer takes
months ICATT allows the user to put the content
in the predened format to produce a booklet at the
click of a mouse.
Contact and support
ICATT is a joint project by the World Health Organi-
zation (www.who.int) and the Novartis Foundation
for Sustainable Development (www.novartisfounda-
tion.org).
More information and support:
www.icatt-training.org
Innovative approach
to training
ICATT is not a stand alone training programme, but
can be used with different training approaches,
such as:
individual learning using computers in in-service
settings
individual learning using computers in pre-service
settings
tailored courses for individual groups of health
workers
distance learning courses using computers
computer-based facilitation
internet or satellite-based facilitation
computer-based training using videos, sounds and
pictures.
Supporting materials
The ICATT package includes supportive materials,
such as:
user guide for the ICATT builder and manager
set of guides that help to plan and organize IMCI
training using ICATT according to specic needs, to
modify the use of the ICATT content according to the
training conguration, to select and conduct class-
room activities, and to conduct clinical training.
More than 100 countries have already adopted the
IMCI strategy with appropriate guidelines for daily
use at frst-level health facilities. The implementa-
tion of the strategy and guidelines has achieved
impressive results both in reducing childhood mor-
tality and in improving the quality of life of children
all over the world.
However, despite the signifcant progress made
since the global introduction of the IMCI strategy, a
number of challenges related to its implementation
remain. Among those challenges are:
ensuring periodical updates of national and sub-
national IMCI guidelines to respond to local health
needs, and
training and maintaining the knowledge and skills
of hundreds of thousands of health workers in IMCI.
To respond to these challenges, WHO and the
Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development
have developed the IMCI Computerized Adaptation
and Training Tool (ICATT).
What is the Integrated
Management of
Childhood Illness?
In the early 1990s, the World Health Organization
(WHO) and UNICEF developed a strategy called
the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness
(IMCI). The primary objective of this strategy is to
reduce childhood (including newborn) mortality
worldwide. The strategy comprises three compo-
nents that all have to be implemented to ensure
success: improving case management skills of
health-care staff, improving overall health systems,
and improving family and community health prac-
tices. The cornerstone of the IMCI strategy is a set
of evidence-based guidelines. These guidelines
have been designed to provide frst-level health
workers with effective and easy-to-use tools to
tackle the major causes of childhood mortality and
morbidity.
Every year almost 10 million children die before
they reach their fifth birthday. More than half
of these deaths are caused by just five preventable
and treatable conditions: pneumonia, diarrhoea,
malaria, measles and malnutrition, and often
by a combination of these. When the most impor-
tant causes of death in newborns are added,
more than eight in ten of these deaths could be
avoided if those children received timely and
appropriate care.
supported by
Novartis Foundation
for Sustainable Development